CVD News Watch December 12

It’s going to be a snowy weekend in this corner of the woods where I live. But I’m delivering your weekend heart news just the same. Have fun!

CVD drug watch

Statin warning for pregnant women
Statins are to be avoided during pregnancy, including the so-called water soluble (hydrophilic) statins originally thought to be of lesser risk than fat soluble (lipophilic) statins. University of Manchester researchers advice that “healthcare professionals should continue to advise women to avoid the use of any type of statin once they plan to start a family or when a pregnancy is suspected or confirmed.”

CVD health care watch

In hospital mortality after STEMI higher in women than men
Women are more likely to die after a ST-elevation myocardial (STEMI) than men in hospitals. The researchers have observed gender disparities in hospital care of heart attack patients. Female patients are less likely to get treatments as recommended by guidelines upon arrival and early hospitalization. Special attention should be given to those at highest risk, especially women with STEMI, during their early hospitalization period.

CVD sugar watch

Sugar can be addictive, Princeton scientist says
Is sugar addictive? Researchers at Princeton observed that this is possible, at least in rats. The lab rats were observed to go “sugar bingeing” and even exhibited “craving and relapse behavior.” If there were true in humans, then maybe “having a sweet tooth” is a form of addiction.

CVD statistics watch

2007 Statistics on CAM Use in the United States
About 38% of American adults and 12% of American children are into some of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). This was based on the results of the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). You can find the details of which CAM therapies are preferred for which conditions here.

CVD medical device watch

New scanner increases diagnostic power and speed, cuts radiation
In time-critical examinations, the speed of a test or evaluation is very important. The new computed tomography scanner Brilliance iCT made by Philips Medical Systems, Inc. is very fast and gives very high resolution pictures yet with lower radiation exposure.

CVD exercise watch

Who Gets Enough Exercise, Who Doesn’t?
In the Dec. 5 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) analyzed the exercise habits of Americans. Their analysis shows that 64.5% of Americans qualify as doing at least “minimum exercise” based on the recent physical activity guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. However, only 48.8% qualified based on criteria previously use as part of the Healthy People 2010 initiative. Men get more exercise than women, young adults more than senior citizens. Per region, Westerners scored the highest physical activity and the Southerners the least.